Ocala-based veterinarian is national ASPCA responder

Dr. Sarah Kirk spends some time with one of her horses, Layce, a 21-year-old Arabian, in a paddock at Golden Ocala in Ocala on April 30.

Bruce Ackerman/Star-Banner

By Andy FillmoreCorrespondent

Published: Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 3:13 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 8:26 p.m.

Six months ago, Ocala-based veterinarian Dr. Sarah Kirk had her hands — and an emergency shelter — full with hundreds of pets impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

Within days of accepting a position as medical director for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Field Investigations & Response team, in November 2012, Kirk was leading the effort to bring aid to the pets, and relief to their owners, who were devastated by the most destructive and deadliest hurricane of the 2012 season. Sandy raged for nine days beginning Oct. 22.

ASPCA spokeswoman Kelly Krause said the society opened the emergency boarding facility in Brooklyn, N.Y., when they "saw a need."

"A shelter in New York City that allowed people to bring their pets had 400 animals. Based upon that, we saw a need for a long-term pet shelter for storm victims while they got back on their feet. Many were in dire straits themselves," Krause said.

She said a $500,000 donation from television personality Rachael Ray made the facility possible.

A large warehouse was converted to house pets brought in by storm victims and loose animals captured in the area. Within days, a team of professionals and volunteers were treating more than 280 cats and dogs.

"When we set up first, it was important to separate the species; cats with cats, dogs with dogs. Then we set a pod-type system so the animals could exercise with the least movement past other animals within the building," Kirk said. "We had to quarantine any sick animals and begin necessary treatment."

At least five of the dogs belonged to a woman whose bond with her pets was so strong she ignored an Oct. 27 FEMA warning to evacuate two days prior to Sandy's impact because she had no place safe for her eight dogs

Kathleen Fessman, 55, a resident of the Board Channel neighborhood of Queens and an emergency room nurse with the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, decided to ride out the storm with her pets at home. On Oct.29, by 8:15 p.m., there was three feet of water in her home, which caused a fuel oil tank in the basement to spill its contents into the floodwater.

"I took my adult black lab Rainey and chocolate labs Java and Mocha, golden retriever Katie, and Yogi, my Saint Bernard, to the Sean Casey Rescue locally, and in turn they took them to the ASPCA emergency shelter. I took my other three dogs to foster homes," Fessman said. "The ASPCA really stepped up to help with their emergency shelter in Brooklyn. They were the voice for animals after the storm."

Fessman, who returned to a "90 percent repaired house" on Jan. 6, said her labs were given medical treatment, including for swollen nodes that might have been a result of their ingesting the fuel-laden water inside her home.

"They were great at the shelter providing medical care, and I knew my dogs were loved," Fessman said.

Kirk, 58, used her experience in kennel settings and helping animals abused in puppy mills and dog fighting rings at the shelter, which operated from November to February.

The Chicago native, who "always wanted to be nothing but a veterinarian," received her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Michigan State University in 1977 and soon began work with a private practice and an "anti-cruelty society." About three years later, she and her husband Jeff moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where she worked at a private practice and a shelter. Kirk also spent about four years in animal orthopedic research.

"I studied long-term herd health and the behavioral issues of dogs and cats in shelters," she said.

About five years ago, the Kirks moved to Golden Ocala, where they keep two rescued horses: Layce, 21, and Grayce, 11.

Kirk has volunteered with the Maddie's Shelter Medicine program at the University of Florida College of Veterinarian Medicine, which provides research and training for shelter professionals dealing with population issues such as influenza, parvovirus and distemper.

Kirk said she accepted the society position after she worked alongside ASPCA members on the Madison County, Fla., Caboodle Ranch case, where 700 cats were "hoarded" in horrible conditions. She later worked on another Florida case in which sick puppies being shipped from Puerto Rico to New York were intercepted in the state.

Kirk currently is out of state on an abuse case.

"As the ASPCA Medical Director of the Field Investigations & Response team, Dr. Kirk is now involved in a criminal dog fighting case which may involve up to 100 dogs in Kansas, Texas and Missouri. The case is being investigated by the FBI," Krause said.

When asked about puppy mills, hoarding and dog fighting, Kirk said many people turn a blind eye.

"Some people can't believe a person would do something that cruel to an animal," she said.

Kirk said being a veterinarian requires a deep compassion for the well-being of animals. During a visit with her horses, she paused to talk about her experiences in the Sandy shelter and with mistreated animals.

"In the worst abuse and neglect cases, your training takes over. When I had tough cases with sick family pets as a vet, I'd remain composed with the clients and then start crying after I turned away to do the paperwork," she said.

<p>Six months ago, Ocala-based veterinarian Dr. Sarah Kirk had her hands — and an emergency shelter — full with hundreds of pets impacted by Hurricane Sandy.</p><p>Within days of accepting a position as medical director for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Field Investigations & Response team, in November 2012, Kirk was leading the effort to bring aid to the pets, and relief to their owners, who were devastated by the most destructive and deadliest hurricane of the 2012 season. Sandy raged for nine days beginning Oct. 22.</p><p>ASPCA spokeswoman Kelly Krause said the society opened the emergency boarding facility in Brooklyn, N.Y., when they "saw a need."</p><p>"A shelter in New York City that allowed people to bring their pets had 400 animals. Based upon that, we saw a need for a long-term pet shelter for storm victims while they got back on their feet. Many were in dire straits themselves," Krause said.</p><p>She said a $500,000 donation from television personality Rachael Ray made the facility possible.</p><p>A large warehouse was converted to house pets brought in by storm victims and loose animals captured in the area. Within days, a team of professionals and volunteers were treating more than 280 cats and dogs.</p><p>"When we set up first, it was important to separate the species; cats with cats, dogs with dogs. Then we set a pod-type system so the animals could exercise with the least movement past other animals within the building," Kirk said. "We had to quarantine any sick animals and begin necessary treatment."</p><p>At least five of the dogs belonged to a woman whose bond with her pets was so strong she ignored an Oct. 27 FEMA warning to evacuate two days prior to Sandy's impact because she had no place safe for her eight dogs</p><p>Kathleen Fessman, 55, a resident of the Board Channel neighborhood of Queens and an emergency room nurse with the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, decided to ride out the storm with her pets at home. On Oct.29, by 8:15 p.m., there was three feet of water in her home, which caused a fuel oil tank in the basement to spill its contents into the floodwater.</p><p>"I took my adult black lab Rainey and chocolate labs Java and Mocha, golden retriever Katie, and Yogi, my Saint Bernard, to the Sean Casey Rescue locally, and in turn they took them to the ASPCA emergency shelter. I took my other three dogs to foster homes," Fessman said. "The ASPCA really stepped up to help with their emergency shelter in Brooklyn. They were the voice for animals after the storm."</p><p>Fessman, who returned to a "90 percent repaired house" on Jan. 6, said her labs were given medical treatment, including for swollen nodes that might have been a result of their ingesting the fuel-laden water inside her home.</p><p>"They were great at the shelter providing medical care, and I knew my dogs were loved," Fessman said.</p><p>Kirk, 58, used her experience in kennel settings and helping animals abused in puppy mills and dog fighting rings at the shelter, which operated from November to February.</p><p>The Chicago native, who "always wanted to be nothing but a veterinarian," received her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Michigan State University in 1977 and soon began work with a private practice and an "anti-cruelty society." About three years later, she and her husband Jeff moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where she worked at a private practice and a shelter. Kirk also spent about four years in animal orthopedic research.</p><p>"I studied long-term herd health and the behavioral issues of dogs and cats in shelters," she said.</p><p>About five years ago, the Kirks moved to Golden Ocala, where they keep two rescued horses: Layce, 21, and Grayce, 11.</p><p>Kirk has volunteered with the Maddie's Shelter Medicine program at the University of Florida College of Veterinarian Medicine, which provides research and training for shelter professionals dealing with population issues such as influenza, parvovirus and distemper.</p><p>Kirk said she accepted the society position after she worked alongside ASPCA members on the Madison County, Fla., Caboodle Ranch case, where 700 cats were "hoarded" in horrible conditions. She later worked on another Florida case in which sick puppies being shipped from Puerto Rico to New York were intercepted in the state.</p><p>Kirk currently is out of state on an abuse case.</p><p>"As the ASPCA Medical Director of the Field Investigations & Response team, Dr. Kirk is now involved in a criminal dog fighting case which may involve up to 100 dogs in Kansas, Texas and Missouri. The case is being investigated by the FBI," Krause said.</p><p>When asked about puppy mills, hoarding and dog fighting, Kirk said many people turn a blind eye.</p><p>"Some people can't believe a person would do something that cruel to an animal," she said.</p><p>Kirk said being a veterinarian requires a deep compassion for the well-being of animals. During a visit with her horses, she paused to talk about her experiences in the Sandy shelter and with mistreated animals.</p><p>"In the worst abuse and neglect cases, your training takes over. When I had tough cases with sick family pets as a vet, I'd remain composed with the clients and then start crying after I turned away to do the paperwork," she said.</p>